Dr. Ted's Home Page      Back to Jaw wiring directory of Site URLs

Hi Shari!

I got my wires put on in early March.  The issues I had were primarily with the brackets ripping up my cheeks (the dental wax didn't seem to help) It took about 3 weeks before my mouth got used to that. 

It was impossible to take any pill (so if your on medication find what works best for grinding them up and then mix with a little hot water before mixing it with a liquid which disguises the taste --> this will help with dissolving).

I had opted for the metal brackets -if I lived near the office I think I would have tried the plastic (for comfort issues), and we had problems with putting the wires thru the brackets (as opposed to around)  which meant that I was limited to broth and very thin liquids (as even shakes wouldn't fit thru my teeth).

Things that I ate that seemed to work:  Lipton cup-o-soup in cream of chicken, atkins shakes, the broth only from the progresso weight watcher soups. cranergy juice mixed w/ low calorie orange juice  (this gave me a variety of taste options ie. spicy, sweet, creamy etc.....).I think its important to have a little variety or you'll start reaching for milkshakes from burger king.  Set up times that you will eat ie.  every 2-3 hours, this will help establish a routine for when you don't have the wires anymore.

Be prepared -- there was nothing worse then being out and having forgotten my shake/soup needing to try to find something; and let your friends know now that you won't be going out --> I told people I had fractured my jaw because I didn't want any extra judgement, so people accepted that I wouldn't be able to eat/drink out.  I scheduled coffee and walk dates with my friends instead which helped.

Now for the good news.  I lost 12 lbs in the first 2 weeks  (my weight was 176 when I started ).  I ended up losing another 6 lbs (put me at 158) before I took them off.

I took them off way earlier than I wanted; but not being able to put the wires thru the brackets made it necessary for me to wire them really tight (or they would fall off)  and I couldn't talk or drink anything but clear liquids.

When I took them off I gained 6 lbs (164) almost immediately; but I got that in line by thinking of how much money I had just spent, and did I want to be back in the wires.

I am now at 154lbs (3lbs from my goal) -->I had started an exercise program right when I got the  wires and hypnotherapy so those helped me to maintain and keep losing. 

Not bad for less than 5 weeks.

Good Luck!  Dr. Rothstein is an amazing guy - I don't think I would have done this if I hadn't been so impressed with his warmth and kindness.